Another crisp morning. Ye Wen sat on her bed by the window, taking a deep breath of the fresh air.

"Miss~ Breakfast’s ready!" A girl in a spotless apron burst into Ye Wen’s room, waving a spatula and shouting.

Ye Wen frowned slightly. She rolled out of bed in one fluid motion, swiftly changed into her school uniform, then peeled a pre-written note from a nearby sticky pad and slapped it onto Shuizishi’s forehead.

[Don’t call me "Miss"]

"Got it, got it, Wen~wen~"

Ye Wen nodded and slipped past Shuizishi. Just as she was about to sit down for breakfast, Shuizishi dragged her into the bathroom.

"How many times do I have to say it… wash your face and brush your teeth before eating… Stop! Don’t use only cold water. Warm water. Pat it on… Ugh, forget it—I’ll do it!"

Once again, Ye Wen fell into Shuizishi’s clutches. A simple face-washing took over ten minutes.

Outside the window, sparrows hopped lightly. The sky seemed unusually bright, as if heralding good fortune for the day.

…

*Slurp—* Qiu Yi sat on a plastic stool at a makeshift wonton stall by the school gate. He boldly tipped half the bowl of broth into his mouth, wiped his lips carelessly with his sleeve, tossed two coins down, and stood to leave.

But he didn’t head straight into school. Instead, he turned into a small alley. A few flowerbeds lined the path, and among them sat a wooden bench. Though no one cleaned it regularly, it was dust-free—couples used to linger here. But since this "sacred spot" was discovered, fewer and fewer lovers came.

Early morning meant few people around. Qiu Yi brushed dust off the bench with his hand and sat down, seemingly waiting.

Soon, a tall girl in uniform approached. She held her head high with pride. Her curvaceous figure looked nothing like a typical high schooler’s, especially her mature face—though a hint of youth remained if you looked closely. Her uniform did little to convince anyone of her student status; it only made her seem like she was playing some questionable cosplay game.

"Yo, here early?" The girl—half a head taller than Qiu Yi—spoke, her domineering aura instantly palpable.

"A-ah… y-yeah…" Qiu Yi scrambled to his feet, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Here. What you asked for." She thrust a paper bag at him, her tone commanding.

"Th-thanks…" Qiu Yi caught it hastily. "Meng-jie, how did you…"

"Tch!" The girl clicked her tongue. "Xiao Tian was too shy to come alone. Made me deliver it. Hmph. The student council president personally running errands for you—still not satisfied?"

"N-no! Not at all…" Qiu Yi shook his head like a rattle. "Wouldn’t dare…"

"Tch. Kid, listen well. If you ever hurt Xiao Tian, I’ll make you regret it." Meng-jie crossed her arms, looking down at him.

"Huh?" Qiu Yi blinked. "I’d never hurt her…"

Meng-jie studied his eyes for a moment, then sighed. "I’d doubt you’d have the guts anyway."

With that, she turned and left.

Qiu Yi wiped his brow again. The student council president really was as sharp and formidable as the rumors said—almost intimidating.

He’d never spoken to her before, only seen her at flag ceremonies and events. Meeting her in person proved the legends true.

…Though how did she even know him?

…

Once Meng-jie vanished from sight, Qiu Yi sat back down. He gently pulled a small box from the paper bag. Inside lay a lifelike clay figurine—uncannily resembling Ye Wen.

But this one differed from previous versions. Dressed in a white sundress, the figurine’s lips curved upward in a faint smile, as if lost in a pleasant thought. Compared to Tian Yuyao’s serene maiden figurine, this one felt alive—imbued with the soul of a pure, cheerful girl.

Qiu Yi had secretly snapped this photo of Ye Wen during the school sports festival. He’d developed it and saved it, then asked Tian Yuyao to sculpt it exactly like this.

He lifted the figurine out. A photo of Ye Wen fluttered to the ground. He picked it up, grinned foolishly at it for a moment, then tucked both back into the box.

"Hmm. Truly a good day," Qiu Yi murmured to himself, heading toward school.

A chair scraped nearby. Ye Wen lazily turned her head to see Qiu Yi placing his bag on his seat, then carefully sliding a paper bag into his desk drawer.

After settling in, Qiu Yi glanced at Ye Wen and smiled before turning away.

*What’s he smiling about?* Ye Wen studied his profile, touching her own cheek. *Is there something on my face?*

[Why are you smiling?] She slid her sticky note pad toward Qiu Yi.

[Nothing.] He wrote back on the same note.

[TELL ME WHAT YOU’RE SMILING ABOUT!!!] Ye Wen scribbled in red pen, adding two big exclamation marks.

[I underpaid for wontons this morning.] Qiu Yi made up an excuse.

[Pathetic.]

Qiu Yi chuckled, reaching for his pen—just as Lu Yu turned around and caught him red-handed.

"Oho! Whispering sweet nothings first thing in the morning?" Lu Yu snatched the note without warning and flaunted it toward Jin Jing.

[Gossip girl.] Ye Wen stuck a fresh note onto Lu Yu’s forehead.

"Hmph! Choosing love over friends!" Lu Yu grumbled, turning away with a pout and burying her face on her desk.

Ye Wen pulled a chocolate bar from her drawer and tossed it onto Lu Yu’s desk.

"WOW—Wenwen, you’re the best! Imported chocolate!!"

"Little glutton," Jin Jing teased, gently booping Lu Yu’s nose.

After the commotion settled, quiet returned. Ye Wen sat reading, occasionally glancing at the paper bag in Qiu Yi’s desk drawer.

*What’s inside?*

…